The magic of Notorious lies in it's well evolved rhythm section and matured components that Nile Rodgers (producer) brought to the table. The band itself was in a state of transition, in that Andy Taylor (Guitars) was in and out of the sessions, ultimately moving on to his own solo project, leaving the band and team to engage other guitarists for the project, and Roger Taylor (Drums) moved on to other endeavors, ultimately bringing in Sterling Campbell.

Notorious was considerably less densely arranged than the bands earlier work, relying mostly on great melodies, raw musicianship and the CHIC elements that became the Nile Rodgers Sound in the 80's. The synth work was minimal, and strategically placed horns took over the harmonic textures.

The lead single, "Notorious", shot up to #2 on the charts. "Skin Trade" also had a great run on the charts and is a cult classic.

The lost gem on this album is the closing track, "Winter Marches On". A huge departure for DD in regards to song structure and musical approach. It's a must listen.